Apprenticeship

Prepare For a Career - Not Just a Job

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No matter what your interests are, apprenticeships are an alternate education path to finding a career while allowing individuals to “earn while you learn” with little or no educational debt. 

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The Adult & Continuing Education provides apprenticeship related instruction courses in accordance with the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship.  The courses present technical instruction for the trade and are intended to complement on-the-job skills.

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What is Apprenticeship?

New Jersey apprenticeship programs are overseen by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship to ensure they meet quality standards and provide valuable training.  

 

Apprenticeships allow individuals to learn a particular occupation, trade, or skill.  Depending on the program, an apprenticeship is between 1 - 4 years.  Apprentices receive: 

• Hands-on training, referred to as On-the Job Training (OJT)
  and

• Educational instruction, referred to as Related Technical Instruction (RTI) to learn a particular occupation

 

How to Become a Registered Apprentice?

An individual must...

• Be employed full-time in their field of study

• Enroll in an approved apprenticeship related instruction course (offered at most county career & technical schools)

• Ask their employer to register them as an apprentice with USDOL Office of Apprenticeship

 

Electrical, HVAC & Plumbing are 4-year apprenticeships

meaning - 

• An apprentice must complete four years (8,000 hours) OJT – apprentices are awarded 2,000 hours OJT for every one year of work
  and

• Complete 576 hours of RTI – apprentices must earn a minimum of 144 hours RTI each year of an apprenticeship program

• Apprentices typically work during the day, and attend classes two evenings per week

 

Apprenticeship Certificate of Completion

• At the completion of both apprenticeship requirements, apprentices can receive a nationally recognized USDOL Completion of Apprenticeship certification.

 

How to Get a Trade License?

• Individuals must have a USDOL Completion of Apprenticeship certificate

• Contact NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, for electrical, HVAC and plumbing licensing board www.njconsumeraffairs.gov, (973- 504-fsdfsfd

 

What does the Adult & Continuing Education related instruction courses look like?

• A four-year apprenticeship is divided into one year segments, each of which includes 150 hours of related instruction.

• Some programs use a hybrid learning model of face-to-face classroom instruction along with an online component, while other programs are 100% virtual.

 Hybrid model –

• Attend in-person class one night a week along with participating in a weekly “live” virtual class meeting and/or an online assignment.

 Virtual model –

• Attend “live” virtual classes and online assignments. ​

 

Notice to Employers

Employers are responsible for registering an employee in an apprenticeship program.

• There are not fees associated with starting and registering an apprentice program with United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship.

• To register an apprentice, Hunterdon/Somerset/Warren/Mercer County employers can contact Chris Lee, USDOL Representative, via email Lee.Huiching@dol.gov or 732-581-9097.

 

For more information, contact Christina Shockley, Hunterdon/Somerset County Apprenticeship Coordinator, via email cshockley@hcvsd.org or 908-788-1119 x2007.

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Below are Apprenticeship Related Instruction Courses offered at HCVSD?

Electrical Occupational Profile 
Heavy Equipment Operator Occupational Profile
Plumbing Occupational Profile
Veterinary Assistant Occupation Profile